(CNN) - The Senate on Friday approved a short-term spending plan that would avoid a government shutdown next week, sending the measure back to the House after Democrats restored funding for Obamacare, which is opposed by Republicans.

(CNN) - The Senate voted on Friday to overcome a filibuster led by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas against a spending measure that would avoid a government shutdown next week, clearing the way for upcoming votes by Democrats to restore funding for Obamacare in the plan and send it back to the House.

(CNN) - The Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to move ahead on a spending plan needed to avoid a government shutdown next week, with Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz, unexpectedly reversing themselves after previously trying to block the measure over their objection to spending for Obamacare.

(CNN) - The Republican-led House on Friday passed a short-term spending plan that would eliminate all funding for Obamacare, setting off a showdown with the Democratic-led Senate that could result in a government shutdown in less than two weeks. The vote was 230-189.

(CNN) - President Barack Obama told PBS on Wednesday that he has "not made a decision" about whether to conduct a limited military strike or a strike of limited duration in Syria.

U.S. officials have concluded the Syrian government carried out chemical weapons attacks, he said.

"We have looked at all the evidence, and we do not believe the opposition possessed nuclear weapons on - or chemical weapons of that sort. We do not believe that, given the delivery systems, using rockets, that the opposition could have carried out these attacks. We have concluded that the Syrian government in fact carried these out. And if that's so, then there need to be international consequences," he told PBS NewsHour.

(CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry called another special session of the state Legislature on Wednesday after a Democratic filibuster killed a bill that would have imposed strict new regulations on abortion providers in the state.

(CNN) - The U.S. Senate on Monday signaled strong support in a test vote for a bipartisan proposal to strengthen border security, giving a boost to prospects for passage of sweeping immigration reform legislation.

Supporters of the border measure, which also covers major elements of the larger immigration bill, garnered more than enough backing in the procedural tally, 67 to 27, to move forward. Some senators did not vote due to travel delays.